Honoring Kristi Redmon's 'colorful' legacy

Friends, family, and students of Kristi Redmon are still mourning her death and the fact no one is going to be held responsible.

Posted: Nov. 8, 2017 5:58 PM

Updated: Nov. 8, 2017 6:46 PM

Posted By: Kayla Sullivan

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Friends, family, and students of Kristi Redmon are still mourning her death and the fact no one is going to be held responsible.

The Lafayette art teacher was shot and killed on her front porch last October and the accused killer was acquitted of his charges.

A member of the jury told you why in a special report Tuesday night. Now, News 18 looks to feature Redmon's legacy.

Like leaves in Autumn, Kristi Redmon brought color to this world.

"Fall was her favorite time of year without a doubt," said Dennis Felix. "She was a big Cubs fan and it upsets me that she never got to see them win the world series."

Felix was married to Redmon. He said their relationship was complicated and they were living apart at the time of her murder.

When News 18 reached out to Redmon's children to talk about their mom's legacy, they directed us to Felix.

He said Redmon's kids are doing well, considering all they lost.

"She used to tell me there were only two things she really wanted in life," said Felix. "She wanted was to be a darn good mom and a darn good teacher."

Redmon accomplished that and so much more.

"What I loved about her is she didn't teach just school and art," said Redmon's friend Katrina Boes. "She taught them life lessons and that's what we started bonding over, the life lessons she was teaching children."

"She didn't walk into a room, she entered a room," added Felix. "She didn't wear clothes, she wore costumes. The party didn't start until she was there."

Kristi Redmon taught art at Edgelea Elementary School in Lafayette. Principal Karen Combs said she had the biggest heart."Especially for students who were having a difficult time," said Combs.

Combs wants Redmon's killer to know, she would have had a really big heart for them.

"That's why I can't let her memory stop with the violence and the grief that brought," said Combs.

Neither could Boes.

"We wanted to make something positive because it seemed like the focus was changing to the people that were either the witnesses or Mr. Printup who was obviously on trial," said Boes.

"When they came back with a not guilty verdict," said Felix. "It was more than I could handle."

But they had to move past it. So, they channeled their anger into a way to honor Kristi.

"We have our federal tax ID, we are waiting to get our not-for-profit status so that we can actually start doing some fundraising," said Boes.

The Kristi Redmon Scholarship is in the making. It's not designed for the most talented artist or the top of the class. It's for the student who lives the most colorful life.

"It's probably the best way and hopefully the way the world will always remember Kristi," said Felix.

But that's not all. There are t-shirts, a bench and even a special award dedicated to Redmon.

"We wanted her to live on with our students and so we established a golden paintbrush award for two students in the fourth grade who exhibited the spirit of Kristi Redmon in the things they did not only in art, but throughout the class," said Combs.

One of those recipients was Boes' son.

"It meant a lot to him," said Boes.

Combs hopes it will mean a lot to future students too.

"Long after the students who had her are gone, she will still live on at Edgelea," said Combs.

It's difficult to move past the fact Kristi's killer won't be brought to justice. But that doesn't mean we can't do her justice by sharing her message.

"She made an impact and she mattered," said Combs. "I think that's the most important thing that I want our kids to remember. Not only did she matter, but they can matter in the life they choose to live."